Stuffing box with helically arranged packings inserted from the side



July 1, 1958 c. F. MOSELEY A 2,841, I

STUFF B WITH LICALLY ARRANGED PAC G NSERT FROM THE Si-DE Filed May 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l 82 3a 60 83 C) 5 f2 l a 15 Z ,4 Q 26 62 :5 48 58 x F 1'9. 2

INVENTOR.

C. K Mass/q Y y 1958 c. F. MOSELEY 2,841,423

STUFF ING BOX WITH HELICALLY ARRANGED PACKINGS INSERTED FROM THE SIDE I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 26, 1955 INVENTOR. F. Moseley 2,841,423 1C3 Patented July 1, 1953 STUFFlllG BOX WITH HELICALLY ARRANGED PACKlNGS INSERTED FROM THE SIDE Charles F. M'oseley, Bartlesville, Gkla.

Application May 26, 1955, Serial No. 511,339

Claims. (Cl. 286-38) This invention relates to stufiing boxes, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an improved stufiing box gland adapted for utilization around a polished rod of a producing oil well.

The majority of oil wells in the oil industry are pumped by use of a rod type pump. The pumping unit is installed in the proximity of the bottom of the well bore and is actuated from the surface of the ground by means of a string of rods. The rods are reciprocated within the bore hole to assist in lifting the oil therein to the surface. The uppermost section of rod is commonly called a polished rod and projects upwardly from the well head. A packing gland disposed in a stufiing box is normally secured to the well head around the polished rod in order to prevent leakage of the pumped well fluid therearound. The present day stu'tring boxes are provided with a plurality of packing members which must be inserted longitudinally through the stufiing box into disposition around the polished rod and in sealing contact therewith.

It will be apparent that reciprocation of the polished rod within the stuffing box will cause the packing members to wear and become inefiicient, often requiring replacement or" the worn packings. To accomplish this, it is usually necessary to temporarily stop the actuation of the polished rod and disassemble the upper portion of the stuffing box in order to replace the inetficient glands or seals. In the event that the stufiing box is provided with two or more separate packing gland portions, it may be possible to replace the worn packing members without cessation of the operation of the polished rod. Even in this event, however, it is still usually necessary to dis-.

assemble the upper portion of the stufiing box in order to obtain access to the damaged packings. It will be apparent that replacement of the lowermost packing gland portion is a tedious and time consuming operation.

The present invention contemplates a novel stufiing box for utilization with a polished rod of a producing oil well, and which is so designed and constructed to greatly simplify the maintenance of packing glands therein. The novel stuffing box utilizes strips of packing which may be readily inserted into the interior of the box by means of openings provided in the side wall thereof. The lower inner surface of the smiling box is provided with a spiral surface which guides an inserted packing strip upwardly in a spiral path for disposition around the polished rod. The inner surface of the cover member of the box is provided with a complementary oppositely disposed spiral surface to guide a second packing strip in a downwardly spiral path around the polished rod. As the two packing strips are brought into contact within the stutfing box they may be compressed into an efiicient sealing position around the polished rod by means of plungers adapted for disposition in the side wall openings of the stufiing box. When the reciprocal action of the polished rod causes wear on the packing disposed therearound, it is an expedient matter to insert additional pieces or strips of packing through the opening without stoppage of the rod or disassembly of the stufiing box.

It is, therefore, an important object'of this invention to provide a novel stufiing box for utilization around a polished rod of a producing oil well, and which is so designed and constructed to facilitate etficient maintenance of packing glands to prevent leakage of well fluid therearound.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel stufdng box for utilization around a polished rod of an oil well and which permits renewal of the packing glands utilized therewith without the necessity of cessation of the operation of the polished rod.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel stufiing box utilizing packing strips which may be expediently renewed without disassembly of the stufling box.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel stufiing box which is adapted to provide adequate lubrication of the polished rod by utilizing the well fluid itself, thus precluding contamination thereof by foreign substances.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide. a stufling box for a polished rod of an oil well in which there is a spiral configuration provided to direct the packing for the box in a spiral direction around the polished rod in super-imposed layers to provide an etficient seal around the polished rod.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a novel stufiing box which is economical and durable in construction and simple and inexpensive in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings: v

Figure l is a sectional view of a stufiing box embodying the invention and is taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a stufiing box embodying the invention.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the novel stuffing box.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the stuffing box housing and cover.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the cover member.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the cover member taken at a ninety degree position from Fig. 5

Figure 7 is a view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 2 without the packing members.

Figure 8 is a broken view of the upper portion of the stuffing box with the cover in place and with portions shown in dotted lines for purposes of illustration.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the under side of the cover member particularly depicting the spiral member thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 10 refers in general to a stuffing box comprising a substantially cylindrical or tubular housing 12 and a cover member 14. The body 15 of the cover member 14 is of substantially circular configuration and is provided with a central aperture 16 (Fig. 4) which permits'a polished.

rod (not shown) to extend therethrough. The cover 14 is further provided with a pair of oppositely disposed outwardly extending flanges or dog ears 18 and 20 each having an aperture 22 and 24, respectively, provided therein for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. The cover 14 is also provided with an outwardly extending arm 26 to cooperate with the housing 12 in a manner as will hereinafter be set forth. The under side of the cover 14 is provided with a downwardly projecting flange 28 of substantially spiral configuration (Fig.4) which extends into the interior of the housing 12' when the stufling box'10 is assembled. The bottom of the housing a 12 is provided with a similar spiral portion 30 (particularly shown inFig. 1 which extends upwardly within the housing,.andis oppositely disposed with respect to the spiral flange portion 28 (Fig. '1).

The top surface 32 of the housmg 12 is provided with two diametrically opposed grooves or recesses 34 and 36 adapted to receive the dog ears 18'and 20, respectively. The housing 12 is further-provided with a longitudinally disposed outwardly protruding-boss 38 having a substan-i tially square shaped recess 40 at the top thereof in'align- 1 ment with the extending member 26 of the cover 14 and of greater depth than the grooves 34 and '36 for a purpose as will hereinafter be set forth. The boss 38 is further'provided with'a lower circular bore or aperture .42 insubstantial vertical alignment with the recess 40. A

plurality of apertures 44 are disposed in spaced relation between apertures 40'and 42, and in alignment therewith. The lower. end of the housing 12 terminates in a downwardly extending externally threaded sleeve 46 in alignment with the aperture 16 in the cover l4to co operperiphery of the housing 12 and are disposed in spaced alignment with respect to'the grooves 34 and 36, respectively, in'order to assist in retaining the cover 14 securely in position on the housing 12.

The cover 14 may be positioned on the housing- 12 withthe dog ears 18 and 20 disposed within recesses.

34 and 36,-respecfively,'and the arm 26 within the upper most portion of the recess 40. The apertures 22'and 24 will bein substantialalignment with complementary recesses 52 and 54 provided in the lugs 48 and 50, thus per- 7 mitting suitable bolts 56 and nuts 58 to be inserted therethrough to clampthe cover 14 securely on the housing 12.

'As hereinbefore set forth, the recess 40 of the housing 12 is "of substantially greater depth than the recesses 34 and 36 so that upon assembly-of the cover 14 with the housing .12 an aperture 41 is provided between the arm follower or plunger 60 (Figs. 1 and 2). The plunger is adapted to be carried by a rectangular plate '62 having 7 an aperture 64provided therein to receive a suitable threaded member, adapted to provide a means 'of moving the plung'e'rlongitudinally within the recess 40. The plate 62 is further provided with an aperture68 adapted to receive a threaded means 70 which cooperates with the uppermost aperture 44 in the housing 12 to maintain the plate 62 in a position substantially parallel to the boss 38. A circular follower or plunger 72 is provided for disposition within the aperture 42 and a lower ture 44 in the housing 12 to maintainthe plunger 72 within the aperture 42.. The aperture 40 in the housing and ' depth substantially equal to the width of the packing strip at'the opposite end 28 thus facilitating the'entry of the packing strip into the housing .and providing for super-imposition of one layer upon another as the packing moves around the polished rod. The circular shaped (in cross section) packing strip 82 may be similarly inserted into the housing through the aperture 42 and the upwardly directed spiraling portion 30 adjacent thereto guides the packing 82 in a spirally upward direction around the polished rod and into contact with thesquare shaped packing 80. The plungers'60 and 72 "may be disposed within their respective apertures and the'plates' 62 and 74 assembled with the housing 12 as hereinbefore set forth. The plungers 60 and 72 may be-f orced against the exposed end of packing'strips 80 and 82 by means of the threaded members 66 and 78 until the de sired sealing efiiciency around the polished rod is attained.

.The circular shapedpacking 82 disposed within the stuffing box 10 provides a small recessed portion 83 between the super-imposed convolutions; consequently, as the rod is reciprocated within the stufling box 10a small quantity of well fluid will enter the 'stufling box and follow the spiral path in the recess 83 between the circular shaped packing 82 upwardly in the proximity of the upper square shaped packing member 80, thus providing ade- ,26 and recess 40 to receiveasubstantially square shaped V quate lubrication between the polished rod and the pack ing glands. The'square packing 80'is disposed'so that upwardly therearound, and provide an etiicie'ntly sealed self-lubricating stufiing b ox. As the packingadjacent the polished rod becomes worn or substantiallyfdeteriorated f through usage, additional strips of packing maybe inserted through the apertures 41 and 42'and the plungers 60 and 72 may be utilized. to properly compress the packing without the necessity of disassembly of the cover plate 74 similarto the upper plate 62' cooperates with V the threaded members 76 and 78 and the lowermost aper-- 12 is adapted to receive stripsofpacking 80 (Fig. -1) of 7 substantially: square configuratiton, .for insertion thereof into the interior 'of the housing, and the aperture .42 is adapted 'to receive a strip of packing 82 of substantially ;usual manner so that therod extendsupwardly therejthrough. and the threaded sleeve 46 may be secured to the well head (not shown); ;The plungers 60 and 72 may packing from the stuflfing box '10.

14. from the housing 12 orvgithout cessation of the'actuation of the polished rod, it being understood that'the newly inserted packing will compress against the worn' worn packing without the necessityof removing the It will be apparent that the interior 'of the housing 12 may be filled with packing and the cover secured thereon 7 prior to installation of the stufiing box around the polished rod. It is also anticipated that molded packing members of a spiral configuration substantially conforming to the inner spiralsurfacesof the housing and cover may be provided. for .insertion'into the interior of' the housing.

through' the top thereof prior to securing the cover thereon; The 'cover'rnay then be secured on the housing and the polished rod may be forced upwardly through the packing upon the initial installation operation and further compression of the packing members may be obtained as heretofore set forth.

of worn packing without disassembly of the stufling box.

The square'shaped (in crosssection) Further, the packing may be maintained in an efiicient sealing condition with no necessity of stopping the operation of the pumping means. Thus, the present invention provides an eflicient stufling box of simple and durable construction and economical operation.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A stuffing box for an oil well polished rod comprising a tubular housing having an open top, a removable cover for the open top of the housing, a downwardly directed spiral flange provided on the cover and extending into the housing, an upwardly directed spiral shoulder provided within the bottom portion of the housing, an upper packing strip of substantially square configuration disposed in the housing around the polished rod and adjacent the downwardly directed spiral flange for urging the upper packing strip in a downward spiral path around the polished rod, a lower packing strip of substantially circular configuration disposed within the housing around the polished rod and adjacent the upwardly directed spiral shoulder for urging the lower packing member in an upwardly spiral path around the polished rod, said housing rovided with means for inserting the packing strips through the side wall thereof, and means cooperating with the housing to compress the packing strips to provide an eflicient sealing contact thereof against the outer periphery of the polished rod.

2. A stufflng box for an oil well polished rod comprising a tubular housing having an open end, a removable cover for the open end of the housing, a downwardly directed spiraling flange provided on the cover and extending into the housing, an upwardly directed spiraling shoulder provided within the lower portion of the housing, an upper packing strip of substantially square configuration disposed in the housing around the polished rod, a lower packing strip of substantially circular configuration disposed within the housing around the polished rod, said housing provided with means for inserting the upper packing strip through the side wall thereof and adjacent the downwardly directed spiral flange of the cover to be guided thereby in a spiral path around the polished rod, said housing further provided with means for inserting the lower packing strip through the side wall thereof and adjacent the upwardly directed spiral portion of the housing to be guided thereby in a spiral path around the polished rod into contact with the upper packing strip, and means cooperating with the housing for compressing the packing strips to provide an eflicient sealing contact thereof against the outer periphery of the polished rod.

3. A stuffing box for an oil well polished rod comprising a tubular housing having an open top and adapted for disposition around the polished rod, a removable cover member for the open top of the housing likewise adapted for disposition around the polished rod, an upper packing strip of square configuration disposed within the housing around the polished rod, means integral with the cover to guide the packing strip in a downwardly directed spiral path around the polished rod, a lower packing strip of circular configuration disposed within the housing around the polished rod, means integral with the housing to guide the lower packing strip in an upwardly directed spiral path around the polished rod, said housing having apertured means in the side wall thereof to permit insertion of the packing strips, and means coopcrating with the apertured means for compressing the 6 packing strips to provide an eflicient sealing contact thereof with the outer periphery of the polished rod.

4. A stufling box for an oil Well polished rod comprising a tubular housing having an open top and adapted for disposition around the polished rod, a cover member for the open top of the housing likewise adapted for disposition around the polished rod, means for rigidly securing the cover member to the housing, a downwardly directed spiraling flange member provided on the cover, a substantially rectangular aperture provided in the side wall of the housing in communication with the spiraling flange, a packing strip of rectangular configuration disposed around the polished rod, said rectangular packing strip adapted for insertion through the rectangular aperture and guided in a downwardly spiral path by the spiral flange, an upwardly directed spiraling portion provided in the bottom of the housing in an axial alignment with the downwardly directed spiral flange, a circular aperture provided in the side wall of the housing spaced from the rectangular aperture and in communication with the upwardly spiraling portion, a packing strip of circular configuration disposed around the polished rod, said circular packing strip adapted for insertion through the circular aperture and guided in an upwardly spiral path by the upward spiraling portion, and means provided in each of the apertures for compressing the packing members around the polished rod.

5. A stufling box for an oil well polished rod comprising a tubular housing having an open top and adapted for disposition around the polished rod, a cover member for the open top of the housing likewise adapted for disposition around the polished rod, means for rigidly securing the cover to the housing, a downwardly directed spiraling flange member provided on the cover, a substantially rectangular aperture provided in the side wall of the housing in communication with the spiraling flange, a packing strip of rectangular configuration disposed around the polished rod, said rectangular packing strip adapted for insertion through the rectangular aperture and guided in a downwardly spiral path by the spiral flange, an upwardly directed spiraling portion provided in the bottom of the housing in axial alignment with the downwardly directed spiral flange, a circular aperture provided in the side wall of the housing spaced from the rectangular aperture and in communication with the upwardly spiraling portion, a packing strip of circular configuration disposed around the polished rod, said circular packing strip adapted for insertion through the circular aperture and guided in an upwardly spiral path by the upward spiraling portion, and means provided in each of the apertures for compressing the packing member around the polished rod, said means comprising a plunger slidably disposed in each aperture to bear against the end of the packing strip therein, a plate member provided for each plunger secured substantially parallel to the outer wall of the housing, threaded means extending through the plate members for moving the plungers into a tight engagement with the packing strips for compression of the pacln'ng strips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 275,484 Haas Apr. 10, 1883 1,258,901 Hodge Mar. 12, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS 352,615 Germany Apr. 29, 1922 556,454 France Apr. 14, 1923 347,868 Great Britain ...a May 7, 1931 56,140 France June 18, 1952 

